Purchasing a pre-made first aid kit online or from your local pharmacy may be tempting since it’s so convenient. However, it is not the best thing to do since you can’t verify the quality of all the tools and instruments. Moreover, it’s doubtful that a pre-made first aid kit will have every single thing that we believe a first aid kit must have. And we say “must” because this is first aid we are talking about. When it comes to first aid, you cannot afford to take chances.
It is best to prepare and customize your own first aid kit, even though it can be quite a daunting task. It takes a lot of work finding each tool from the checklist and making sure that you are buying something high quality.
So in this post, we will help you get started gathering the necessary tools for your own first aid kit. We won’t tell you to buy this brand or that brand, but keep in mind that quality is key when it comes to first aid. A minor injury can turn into something life-threatening, after all.
Three Levels of First Aid Preparedness
Level 1
This level is for portability when you are on the go. You can bring this one anywhere as you want. It’s meant for personal use only and it practically an EDC (Every Day Carry) First-Aid Kit.
Level 2
This level can be carried in your bug-out bag when you are about to bug out and leave your location. This supply is enough to get you through until you establish permanent shelter, return home, or infrastructure stabilizes.
Level 3
This level is for a serious emergencies and life-or-death situations, and its supply is usually stored at home.
Tools That Make Up a First Aid Kit
This list contains the most common things that you should put in your customized first aid kit for your bug out bag. When purchasing supplies, don’t worry about space restrictions since it’s always best to have too much than not enough- and you can leave some at home and customize what you want to bring in your bug out bag depending on your needs.
Adhesive bandages
Get the self-adhesive type for small injuries.
Alcohol pads or antiseptic solution
To disinfect wounds or scrapes in order to prevent infection.
Antibacterial soap
To reduce and prevent bacterial infections.
Antibiotic ointments
To treat minor wounds and burns, preventing mild skin infections.
Antifungal ointments
To treat skin conditions that may cause fungal infections.
Pressure dressing
A high-absorbent cloth used to stop bleeding by applying pressure.
Burn gel
To soothe minor burns.
Butterfly bandages
These are adhesive bandages used to close deep wounds that bleed heavily. If you aren’t comfortable stitching yourself or others up (and who is?), butterfly bandages can be a real help in closing more serious cuts.
Chest seals
A type of dressing to treat chest traumas such as punctured lungs, abdominal injuries, etc.
Compression bandages
A stretchable cloth used to treat a specific area or injury by applying pressure, mostly for sprained joints.
Cotton balls/pads/swabs
Used to disinfect wounds and apply ointments.
Eye solution/wash
Flushed out contaminants and helps to protect the eye from burning, itching, and etc.
Foot powder
To treat calluses and corn, acne, and etc.
Gloves
To protect from infection.
Hand sanitizer
To disinfect certain areas of your skin preventing possible infections.
Hydrocortisone cream
To treat skin conditions and insect bite along with typical minor itching, swelling, redness, and etc.
Hydrogen peroxide
Antiseptic to clean out wounds.
Instant hot/cold packs
Helps reduce pain and swelling for injuries.
Irrigation syringe
This is often overlooked, but if you have clean water, it is a highly effective tool for cleaning wounds.
Medical tape roll
It is used to attach bandages, gauze and dressing on the skin and cover wounds.
Oral thermometer
Used to get your temperature. Battery or not, oral thermometers are the most dependable.
Petroleum jelly
This can be used to moisturize the skin and protect the skin to help heal minor burns and scrapes.
Roll bandages
A gauze or cotton material used as a dressing to immobilize injured body parts and help to control bleeding by applying pressure.
Shears
It is used to cut sutures, gauzes, bandages, clothing, etc.
Splinting materials
To prevent an injured body from moving to prevent further damage.
Sterile gauze pads
It is used to keep the wounds clean and stop bleeding.
Superglue
This is a good alternative to stitches, closing significant cuts of wounds.
Tourniquets
It is a tight band which is used to stop the blood flow to an injured area effectively.
Triangular bandages
It can be used as an arm sling or a pad to control bleeding.
Tweezers
It is also called ‘forceps’ and is used as pincers or extractors.
Wooden tongue depressors
These are used to allow examination of the mouth and throat. They can also be used to splint a finger.
Specialized First Aid Tools
This list contains some specialized equipment, including some equipment made for critical life-or-death situations
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
It is a portable device to shock the heart back into action if someone is experiencing cardiac arrest.
Blood Pressure Cuff
Originally known as ‘sphygmomanometer’, it is used to measure and observe blood pressure.
Burn Kit
It is used to treat major burns.
Cervical Collar
It provides support for the neck and spinal cord for someone suffering from a neck or head injury.
Foldable Stretcher
It is used to carry a person who does not have the ability to stand or must remain lying flat.
Locking Forceps
It is also called ‘clamps’ and is used to grasp and hold objects or even skin.
Snakebite Kit
It is used to extract venom from a snakebite or neutralize it before it reaches and spreads in the body.
Stethoscope
It is used to listen to a person’s heart, lungs, or gut.
Suture Kit
This includes the tools needed for stitching wounds
Common Over-the-Counter First Aid Medicine
This list contains the essential medications you should keep at home and in your bug out bag. Your needs might be different from the list, so for your bug out bag, bring the most important ones that you think you’ll need.
Acetaminophen
It helps to reduce pain and fever.
Antacid
Helps to treat heartburn, stomach or any gastrointestinal discomfort.
Antihistamine
Helps relieve the symptoms of allergies.
Aspirin
It helps relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever.
Asthma Inhalers (If Necessary)
Helps treat breathing difficulties related to asthma.
Dramamine
It is an antihistamine and is used to treat or prevent vomiting, nausea and dizziness related to motion sickness.
Epipen
It is used to treat serious allergic reactions.
Ibuprofen
It is a painkiller that helps different kinds of body aches and pains.
Anti-diarrhea Medication
Helps treat diarrhea- there are many different types, find what agrees with you best.
Throat lozenges
Used to soothe throat irritation.
Final Thoughts
This is just a rudimentary list. When prepping and stocking your home and packing your bug out bag, be aware of your personal needs. Fine tune your first-aid kits. I say “kits” because you should always have more than one. You should at least have one at home, one in your bug out bag, and one you can carry around every day.
Preparing your first aid kit for emergency preparedness is a lot of work. But it’s far better to be prepared than to be stuck needing a certain tool or medication and not having it. The prepping philosophy is that you can never be too prepared, so this list is really only the start. You should think about situations you might run into and adjust the contents of your first aid kits accordingly.